Healthy Travel Tips

Summer has officially arrived here in the Pacific Northwest and it has brought along some sunny and beautiful weather. Bye bye Seattle drizzle – hello gardening, outdoor concerts, picnics and travel, all of which we are currently enjoying.

Hubby and I just returned from a quick trip back east to visit my family, followed by several days in Toronto for a training. I’m excited to share more about what we’re cooking up once the details have been ironed out, so stay tuned for that!

Meanwhile, since travel is fresh on my mind I thought I would take this opportunity to share some of my favorite healthy travel tips with you.

• It’s all about the snacks – What you are permitted to bring depends on where you are going, i.e. across the country or across a border so make sure you are familiar with applicable customs-related restrictions. As an example, when leaving Toronto to return to the US, we were required to clear customs and immigration prior to getting on the plane. Thus, while we could bring fresh food on the plane on the way to Canada, we were not permitted to bring fresh fruit and veggies on the way back.
• Pack some healthy basics:  chia seeds, energy bars, nuts & seeds, dried fruit, dark chocolate, etc. When you arrive at your destination, you can purchase some fresh fruit, veggies, hummus, etc. to snack on. You can add a teaspoon of the chia seeds to some juice or nut milk to make a filling and nutritious snack.
• Use the web to find nearby healthy restaurants and grocery stores. Looking for a plant-based eatery? Try Happy Cow or VegGuide, or Google or Yelp and include search terms like “organic,” “vegan,” “plant-based,” or “sustainable.” Depending on the season, you might find a Farmers Market, which is one of my favorite resources for local and sustainable options.
• Be aware that while items marked “TSA Approved” can travel safely in the US, they may be confiscated at a foreign airport. Example: I lost a bottle of difficult-to-replace preservative-free saline solution for my contact lenses at Heathrow on my way to France.
• You can pack a small blender such as a Nutri-Bullet in your carry-on or checked luggage (although on the way through security, they might ask you what the big piece of metal is about). You then can make smoothies right in your hotel room.
• I suggest you avoid the body scanners at security due to excess and unnecessary radiation exposure. You have a right to simply say “I opt out” and get a pat-down instead. Even without any metal in your pockets, you might be “randomly” chosen for the scanner, so allow extra time to get through security.

Enjoy your travels and be kind to strangers. Remember, strangers are just friends that you haven’t met yet.